Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Here's How to Tell If You Have a Vintage Surfboard

There are so many people out there dealing in the vintage surfboard
market these days that it is getting hard keeping track of what's what. I
have been amazed at what some of these dudes spend money on and what is
being perceived as cool. I have always said that what was cool in "the
day" is what is still cool today. But that isn't always the case.

Oh
well. But, in my own little way of trying to sort out some of this
stuff, I have nevertheless decided to come up with a little rating
system to at least give some sort of order to things. This really deals
more with the condition of the beast than what the thing is in the first
place.

You guys are gonna have to figure that out on your own
because nobody seems to be getting these things right. When a horrible
old restored pop-out that was a laughable joke in the `60s sells for
$3,000, and then a classic old Yater in perfect condition goes for $400
right after it I have to throw my hands up.

Anyway, here is a
little system to determine a starting place as far as condition is
concerned. Going into it know that first off a classic board in original
condition is better than if it is redone to make it look new. Fixing
the dings is fine, but reglossing and recoloring definitely takes away
from the collectible value.

1. VIRGIN: This would be a vintage
board that has never been waxed up or ridden, virtually in new
"showroom" condition. The highest value.

2. MINT: In pristine
condition. No dings or dents and not too yellowed or faded. Probably
ridden a few times and then stored in a garage or hermetically sealed
surfboard storage chamber. Very desirable and of high value.

3.
CHERRY: A board that was surfed on yet kept in great condition. No
serious damage ever done to it. No compression dents and possibly only a
minimal amount of fixed and hard to notice small dings. Excellent
value.

4. BETTY: This is most of what you will find out there. A
board that was ridden hard and put away wet. Dings and dents, yet all
fixed very well. Has all the original stuff as far as the skeg and
finish. O.K. if it is a bit yellowed or faded. Good value.

5.
BEATER: Not in perfect condition by a long shot. Has unfixed dings
and/or dents. A board that was ridden hard and thrown away wet. Might
have had more than normal contact with rocks, jetties, piers and heads.
But, maybe something that still might be fun to take out and try to
ride. Or at least maybe fix it up and save it until its value increases
with the years going by. Some value as an investment.

6. TRASHED:
Just what it sounds like. A board that has been really destroyed beyond
reasonable repair. At best this would be one for refurbishing. Fix all
the dings and give it a regloss with color to cover up all the carnage.
Try to keep the original logo visible if at all possible. I hate to say
this but some of these are actually going for more than some of the ones
listed above. So, some value as a project.

That just about runs
the gamut I guess. Besides these guidelines for condition though I'd
also like to stress that it might be important to get some sort of
education of what was what before you start investing in what seems to
be what. Or hire somebody to help you make these choices before
investing a ton of money in a vintage surfboard collection. The cream
will rise, it always does sooner or later.